Cheers & Jeers

Cheers: to irony. MHA Tom Osborne leaves the provincial Tory party, saying he’s tired of being muzzled and told what to say on issues. In response to his departure, CBC Radio does a story interviewing three different Tories, who miraculously find the exact same language to trash Osborne, saying he wasn’t “engaged” in the PC caucus (one changes the message enough to say Osborne was “disengaged” from the caucus). If nothing else, it kind of proves that someone else is in the back room, writing their lines for them and pulling the strings needed to make their mouths move. Oh well: if you elect a lapdog, you shouldn’t be surprised when you see that it’s been trained to heel.

Jeers: to geography. Tropical storm Leslie blows into Newfoundland, and both the National Post and the Globe and Mail have stories up quickly on their websites with the headlines “Leslie pounds Newfoundland” and photos of the storm — from Truro, N.S. Truro, Trepassey, potato, po-tat-o. Those pesky little Atlantic provinces — they’re really all interchangeable anyway.

Jeers: to pesky timetables. Here’s part of a Friday news release from the provincial government: “The Sir Robert Bond Bridge is the only highway crossing of the Exploits River. It is a critical link on the Trans-Canada Highway, and a vital part of the national and provincial transportation network. The bridge, which underwent repairs in 2011, has an estimated remaining life span of five years. Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin this fall and be completed during the summer of 2015.” OK, so three years — and $22 million — to replace a highway bridge. Then again, the province announced in 2010 the Kenmount Road overpass would be rebuilt and reopened by the late summer/fall of 2011, and the work there continues. All of which makes you look at the ambitious plan to build a massive hydro dam in Labrador, on time and on budget, and wonder if you can’t seem to build a highway bridge in under two years …

Cheers: to details. Newfoundland Power’s capital plan — a plan that sees the utility spending $80,788,000 on renovations and upgrades in 2013 — includes the utility wanting to refurbish eight washrooms at its Kenmount Road building: four of the washrooms haven’t been renovated in 33 years, the other four, in 44 years. The consumer advocate is battling the renovations, saying the changes are cosmetic. Nice to see the advocate is on his toes and ready to fight the good fight over the planned $134,000 expenditure, but really: a 44-year-old bathroom is pretty darned old. With Newfoundland Power releasing Friday that it is looking for a 7.2 per cent increase for residential customers, there must be better battles to fight.

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Winston Adams

September 20, 2012 - 15:18

The advocate Johnson is on his toes about a 134,000.00 expense for bathrooms, but gave Muskrat Falls a quick nod. And where was his analysis of the potential and cost of serious energy efficiency proposals that could save consumers up to a thousand dollars a year. I guess as more and more of the public opposes Muskrat falls, he needs to show the public he is really concerned. Instead of getting 7 percent increase , nfld power will only get 4 or 5, which is all they expect in the first place, and Johnson will look good. Smoke and mirrows. Why don't Johnson say something of the misleading information on the TAKE CHARGE site. like 10 fold exaggeration of the energy saved by compact lights.

Do any of you dupes think for a minute that the NDP or the Liberals would be any less secretive, or not go ahead with the muskrat fall development??? Ha ha ha. If you do then you are more stupid then I thought you were. Wait, that's not possible, ...LOL

It's staight from the Tory handbook in the chapter dealing with mutiny from the goodship Tory; malign them, slander them, belittle them....its happened numerous times, to Verge, Marshall, Manning, and others, but to name a few.

This is just the beginning of Tory backbenchers bailing ship. And, naturally, the Secret Society known as the Tory Party of NL will respond with a counterspin that the departing member was dis-engaged, meaning the springs broke on his bobblehead. For minister Burke to call Osbourne "deadwood" is more just a bit offensive, its downright unparliamentary; but, then again, she is an expert on being deadwood; her track record speaks for itself.
And, its commical to hear Kent and others respond for they themselves are merely coat-tail politicians who will be ousted next election. Sometimes Steve, its best to just nod and leave doubt rather than speak and give proof.

I found the language used to describe Osbourne's departure very similar as well. All interviewed used the exact same adjectives. They learned their given scripts well. Kind of like the kindergarten student learning their parts for the Christmas concert.

A departure from "this piece", or "this file" or "other juristrictions". The Telegram's Cheers comment hit it right on the nose. Actually a visitor last nite made the same observation. It's about the only transparency in the PC Government, you can pick out their bullshit a mile away.